Periodical Cicada of Indiana - Purdue Extension Entomology

E-47-W
Landscape & Ornamental
Department of Entomology
PERIODICAL CICADA IN INDIANA
Clifford S. Sadof, Extension Entomologist
In Indiana most broods of the periodical cicada appear
once every 17 years. However, two broods come out every 13
years. Periodical cicadas are usually referred to as “17-year
or 13-year locusts.” They are about 1-1/2 to 2 inches long
and have black bodies, reddish legs, wing margins, and eyes.
LIFE HISTORY
Cicadas have an interesting life cycle. They appear in the
last part of May and during June. The incessant cadence of
high-pitched, shrill sounds announces their presence. Only
the males make this noise. It is produced by vibrating membranes on the underside of the first abdominal segment. The
females have no sound-producing organs.
A female cicada has a knife-like organ that she uses to
slit or puncture twigs of woody plants in which she lays her
eggs. In about 6 weeks, the eggs hatch, and the nymphs
drop to the ground, dig into the soil, and feed by sucking sap
from tree roots.
Females will only lay eggs in twigs between 3/16” and
7/16” in diameter. At the end of 13 or 17 years, depending
upon the brood, the nymphs come out of the ground. They
crawl up tree trunks, posts, or other objects, shed their last
shell, and emerge as winged cicadas. These adults live about
one month. During this time they mate, and each female lays
400-600 eggs. Cicadas are abundant only in areas where trees
harbored the eggs of the previous generation. Cicadas can be
very numerous in some areas and absent in woodlots nearby.
DAMAGE TO TREES AND SHRUBS
While some people consider the mass emergence of cicadas one of nature’s many wonders, others find it a nuisance.
In urban areas, heavy infestations can make the sidewalks
and roads slick with dead insect carcasses. In fruit orchards
and nurseries, cicadas can seriously damage young trees
whose main stems and branches are between 3/16” and
7/16” diameter.
Female cicadas cause damage when they puncture or
slit the twigs of trees and shrubs to lay their eggs. Infested
branches appear as if the eggs have been stiched in by a
sewing machine. These branches will turn brown, die, and
sometimes break off. Female cicadas have been reported to
lay eggs on over 200 woody tree species and are common on
oak, hickory, flowering fruit trees, mountain ash, and grape.
CONTROLLING ADULT CICADAS
Cultural Control
The first step in managing cicadas is to familiarize yourself
with their expected emergence periods. These are listed in
Table 1. In this way, you can avoid damage by good planning.
When possible, avoid planting new trees in the fall before
or during the spring that cicadas will emerge. This could be
especially helpful in fruit orchards or woody plant nurseries.
Also, delay pruning until the cicadas have disappeared. The
injured branches can then be removed after cicadas have
stopped flying.
Small ornamental trees and shrubs can be protected by
covering them with no larger than 3/8” mesh screening while
cicadas are present.
Biological Control
There are many natural enemies of cicadas. Birds, and
squirrels will feast on cicadas during a mass emergence.
However, the large number of cicadas are likely to outstrip
the capacity of these animals to control the problem.
Chemical Control
The use of pesticides for controlling the cicada is controversial. Pesticide trials indicate that pesticide applications need
Periodical cicadas -- Magicicada spp. (There are six known
species, five of which have been reported in Indiana.)
(Photo by: Arwin Provonsha, Dept. of Entomology, Purdue
Univ.)
2
Periodical Cicada of Indiana— E-47-W
to be repeated every 3-4 days to prevent oviposition. This is
not practical for the 6 week flight period. Cultural controls are
therefore recommended.
Those who still wish to use pesticides to reduce injury
should apply them to foliage and trunks as adults emerge
and repeat 5 to 7 days later. Permethrin (Eight or Spectracide
Bugstop), or cyfluthrin (Bayer Advanced) are general use
pesticides for fruit and ornamentals that could be used by
homeowners and commercial producers in accordance with
the label. Commercial fruit producers wanting to protect their
fruit trees can use Asana in accordance with the label.
Table 1. When and where in Indiana the 17-year and 13-year cicadas will appear.
Brood
Number
Race
Year to
Appear
Where They Will Appear
X
17-year
2021
In all counties, but heaviest in south-central Indiana; largest of the 17-year broods.
XII
17-year
2023
Allen and Orange counties; scarce in Indiana.
XIII
17-year
2024
Lake, LaPorte, and Porter counties.
XIV
17-year
2025
40 counties, but heaviest in southwestern Indiana; dense swarms expected in
Brown and Warrick.
XIX
13-year
2024
8 western counties, from Posey and Warrick on the south to Newton and Jasper
on the north.
XXIII
13-year
2028
21 counties mostly in southwestern Indiana, with Fountain, Tippecanoe and Fayette the northern limits.
Adult periodic cicada (side view)
(Photo credit: Gary Michel)
Adult periodic cicada (top view)
(Photo credit: Gary Michel)
Table 2. Plants at high risk for damage by cicadas (adapted from Ahern et.al., 2004).
Genus
Common Name
Genus
Common Name
Acer
Maples
Malus
Apple, Crabapple
Amelanchier
Serviceberry
Nyssa
Sour gum
Castanea
Chestnut
Ostrya
Hophornbeam
Apple, Crabapple
Katsura tree
Oxydendrum
Sourwood
Cercis
Redbud
Prunus
Cherries, Peaches & Plums
Chionanthus
Fringe tree
Quercus
Oaks
Cornus
Dogwood
Rosa
Roses
Cotinus
Cotinus
Sorbus
Mountain Ash
Cotoneaster
Cotoneaster
Tilia
Basswood
Crataegus
Hawthorn, Cockspur
Ulmus
Elmwood
Fraxinus
Ash
Weigela
Weigela
Hamamelis
Witch-hazel
Periodical Cicada of Indiana-— E-47-W
3
Literature Cited:
Ahern, R., H. Lemke, K. Bejleri, and M.J. Raupp, 204.
Periodical Information for Landscape Professionals and
Nurseries. University of Maryland Cooperative Extension <https://www.msu.edu/user/rga/Cicada%20Information%20Sheet.pdf>
Table 3. Plants with moderate and low susceptibility
to cicada damage (adapted from Ahern et.al., 2004).
Genus
Common Name
Ilex
Hollies
Laburnum
Golden chain tree
Phellodendron
Corktree
Betula
Birch
Carpinus
Hornbeam
Magnolia
Magnolia
Chamaecyparis
Cedar
Web link for more general information:
<http://www.cicadamania.com>.
Periodic cicada eggs in stems (Photo credit: J. Obermeyer)
Adult periodic cicada (Photo credit: J. Obermeyer)
Dieback on oak trees caused by cicada egg laying
(Photo credit: J. Obermeyer)
Periodic cicada damage to stems (Photo credit: J. Obermeyer)
READ AND FOLLOW ALL LABEL INSTRUCTIONS. THIS INCLUDES DIRECTIONS FOR USE, PRECAUTIONARY STATEMENTS (HAZARDS TO HUMANS, DOMESTIC ANIMALS, AND ENDANGERED
SPECIES), ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS, RATES OF APPLICATION, NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS, REENTRY INTERVALS, HARVEST RESTRICTIONS, STORAGE AND DISPOSAL, AND ANY SPECIFIC
WARNINGS AND/OR PRECAUTIONS FOR SAFE HANDLING OF THE PESTICIDE.
April 2016
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